How to get into lacrosse

Start here

Modern lacrosse looks like a blend of hockey's flow, basketball's spacing and football's physicality — which is exactly why it converts athletes from those sports so easily.

The right first step in lacrosse is smaller than most beginners assume. Do these things in order.

• Buy or borrow a beginner complete stick before anything else
• Learn to cradle so the ball stays in the pocket while you run
• Wall ball: 15 minutes of passing against a wall, right and left hand
• Learn scooping ground balls — most beginner possessions come from there
• Join a club training night before worrying about position

What to buy — and what to skip

Buy the minimum, use it for a month, then upgrade what actually limits you.

• Lacrosse stick (crosse)
• Helmet and gloves (men's field)
• Mouthguard
• Cleats
• Shoulder and arm pads

Where to train

These are the venue types to search for locally. Clubs and gyms in the SportConnect directory list their sports, levels and session times, so you can filter for beginner-friendly options.

• Grass or turf fields
• Box lacrosse arenas
• School and university fields
• Park pitches

Pick the right format

Beginners who choose the wrong format usually decide the sport isn't for them. Start with Men's field, or an easier variant.

• Men's field
• Women's field
• Box (indoor)
• Sixes
• Youth and high-school leagues

Why it's worth it

What people get out of lacrosse once they're past the first month.

• Constant running builds real aerobic fitness
• Stick skills are learnable at any age with wall-ball practice
• Transfers well from hockey, football, basketball and soccer
• Strong club and university scene in the US, growing fast in Europe
• Box lacrosse gives a year-round indoor option

Find people to train with

Nothing keeps a new sport going like other people expecting you. Create a free profile with lacrosse as your sport and your level, then browse players, coaches and clubs in your city and message the ones running beginner sessions.

Your first month

1. 01

   Week 1 — get a stick

   A beginner complete stick is enough. Learn cradling and basic catching in your garden or a park.

2. 02

   Week 2 — wall ball daily

   Fifteen minutes a day against a wall, alternating hands. This is the single highest-return habit in the sport.

3. 03

   Week 3 — find a club session

   Search for a local club or university side and turn up to an open training night. Most take complete beginners.

4. 04

   Week 4 — play a scrimmage

   Ask to play a small-sided game. Ground balls and hustle earn you minutes long before your shooting does.

Frequently asked questions

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